''I am delighted that we have been able to secure for the Assembly someone of Sanjiv's abilities and experience and in the process to have made an important step towards making the Assembly's senior civil service more diverse,'' he said.

Mr Vedi, 41, came to the UK in 1970 and studied at Cardiff University. He was president of the Students' Union at Cardiff from 1983-84, the first black or Asian president of any Welsh University college.

Race watchdogs also welcomed the move.

A spokesman for the Commission for Racial Equality in Wales said: ''We obviously welcome the appointment.

''The Assembly has a real opportunity to become an exemplar for race equality.

''The Commission is pleased with the Assembly's seeming commitment to these issues as exemplified in the McKenzie report.''